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P
P
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A COMPLETE GUIDE TO PLAYING POKER ONLINE












By Frank Miller

















Copyright 2004-2005 Frank Miller




HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
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Bonus code: POKERBOOKS
T TA AB BL LE E O OF F C CO ON NT TE EN NT TS S

TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................... 2
ABOUT THE AUTHOR .................................................................................................... 4
INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER 1 GETTING STARTED............................................................................... 6
setting up the software .................................................................................................... 6
choosing a Screen Name................................................................................................. 8
CHAPTER 2 THE LOBBY............................................................................................. 9
working the lobby ........................................................................................................... 9
table info ....................................................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER 3 PLAYING................................................................................................ 11
play money games......................................................................................................... 11
play money tournaments............................................................................................... 11
loosing your play money............................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER 4 THE TABLE WINDOW......................................................................... 12
realtime stats ................................................................................................................. 12
player notes ................................................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER 5 REAL MONEY GAMES ........................................................................ 13
transfering funds ........................................................................................................... 13
playing........................................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER 6 ONLINE POKER VS B&m POKER...................................................... 14
game speed.................................................................................................................... 14
low rake no tokes ....................................................................................................... 14
playing 2 tables ............................................................................................................. 14
human memory and shuffling....................................................................................... 15
CHAPTER 7 ONLINE POKER TIPS........................................................................... 17
playing multiple sites .................................................................................................... 17
taking quality notes....................................................................................................... 17
hand histories ................................................................................................................ 17
taking advantage of promotions.................................................................................... 18
bankroll considerations ................................................................................................. 19
online tells..................................................................................................................... 20
CHAPTER 8 ONLINE ETIQUETTE............................................................................ 21
acting quickly................................................................................................................ 21
the chat box................................................................................................................... 21
CHAPTER 9 SECURITY.............................................................................................. 22
CHAPTER 10 CHEATING........................................................................................... 23
CHAPTER 11 AVAILABLE TOOLS........................................................................... 24
tracker software............................................................................................................. 24
stimulation software...................................................................................................... 24
discussion forums.......................................................................................................... 24
CHAPTER 12 SOME FINAL THOUGHTS................................................................. 25
APPENDIX A USEFUL LINKS................................................................................... 26
online cardrooms........................................................................................................... 26
info/strategy sites .......................................................................................................... 26
poker tours / series ........................................................................................................ 27
miscalleneous................................................................................................................ 27
APPENDIX B POKER BOOKS ................................................................................... 28
APPENDIX C GLOSSARY.......................................................................................... 32




A AB BO OU UT T T TH HE E A AU UT TH HO OR R


I have been a professional poker player for the past 3 years. Over the course of
these years, I have earned more than $100,000 playing poker on the internet.

I was once an amateur player like you. Using the available tools you can find on
the Internet, most of them free, I became one of the toughest players online, and
currently earn several hundred dollars an hour playing online.

This ebook is meant to show you the steps to play poker online. Although you will
find bits of good advice, it is by no means a formula to becoming an expert poker
player. Youll need to study the game, read the books, analyze your play, discuss
strategy with other players and really play a lot to become an expert. But it can
be done; five years ago, I was just like you.























I IN NT TR RO OD DU UC CT TI IO ON N


Poker is a wonderful game. It is a mix of courage, psychology, science and luck:
every ingredient needed to make it a great challenge. What differentiates poker
from other great strategy games such as Chess, Backgammon or Bridge is its
simplicity to learn. Once you get that an ace beats a king, and that a flush beats
a straight, youve got pretty much everything covered. There are some other
rules, of course, but they are not going to prevent you from sitting down at a
poker table and having some fun. And fun is what its all about! Poker, however,
behind that smoke screen, is a very complex game, which needs years of playing
to master.

The object of this text if to give you a complete tour of what is available and what
should be done to play poker online. I will walk you through a registration process
and even make you play for fun a little. I will also include valuable information on
online poker, what tools are available, which are the best and where you should
go on the web to improve your playing skills. When you are through with this
eBook, you will be ready to play and ready to use the web to make you a better
poker player. Even if you are a seasoned online player, you should find a couple
of valuable tips here and there.

Also provided in this ebook are a whole bunch of bonuses and promotions that
could earn you several hundred dollars in extra cash in your online players
account. They are really worth it.

So, on that notelets shuffle up and deal!



















C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 1 1 G GE ET TT TI IN NG G S ST TA AR RT TE ED D


The transition from a regular Brick and Mortar Casino to an Online Cardroom can
be made easily, assuming you are somewhat computer literate. Really, all you
need is a computer and an internet connection.

Depending on the site, you can open an account without giving away any
personal information. In the following minutes, you will be playing at one if the
finest online cardroom on the Net. I will guide you during the software installation,
account setup and play. The software we will be using does not require any
personal information. Its really easy and you will be able to play in a matter of
minutes.

S SE ET TT TI IN NG G U UP P T TH HE E S SO OF FT TW WA AR RE E

The first thing you will need to do is to download the free client software from
your favorite cardroom. For you to really understand how to setup an online
poker account, lets download one of these softwares and actually go through the
setup. Its really easy, youll see. Ill walk you through it.

Most online pokerroom are designed the same way, but well use PartyPokers
software for the sake of this demonstration. Its a quick setup, without any
elaborate steps. Just click here to get to their web page and then click on
Download or Play Now. You will be taken to a download page and the process
should start immediately. A File Download window should appear asking you to
either open the file or save it on your computer. You can click on Open or Run
or save the file on your computer. If you choose to save it, just note the location
of the folder you are saving the file in. If the window doesnt appear, then click on
the link provided on that page.

If you clicked Open or Run the installation process will start on its own. If you
saved the installer on your computer, simply double-click it and it should start
installing. Then simply follow the instructions. Depending on the speed of your
computer, the whole process should only take about 60 seconds. When you are
done, a new icon should appear on your desktop. Click on the icon to get to the
lobby of the online Cardroom.

Alternatively, you can go to >All Programs>PartyPoker>PartyPoker and
start the program.

When the program starts, you will be prompted to login (if you are not, then go to
My Account and then Login). Since you are a new player, click on the lower
button, where it says Sign up Open Account.




At this time, you do not need to give any personal information other than an email
address. If you really wish to remain anonymous, you could go to a free email
provider such as Hotmail or Yahoo and open a new email account. Then simply
enter that new email address.

Fill in the required fields. When you get to the Signup Bonus Code box, you
might want to enter the code Guide. As a unique offer to readers of this
ebook, youll be getting a 20% bonus up to $100 on your first real money deposit.
Thats a free $100 to get you started. Even if you dont intend to play for real
cash later on, it wont do you any harm to enter the code now. You never know, a
free $100 might go a long way.


Guide

C CH HO OO OS SI IN NG G A A S SC CR RE EE EN N N NA AM ME E

Choosing your screen name is somewhat important. Basically, its the only public
information available for your opponents aside from your location. So you might
want to consider how they will portray you given your screen name.

For example, if you choose to call yourself Mary or Lisa, some of the more
male macho players might give you more action simply because they believe
they are playing against a woman. Also, names like Im the best or Poker Pro
should probably be avoided, since you really do not want to appear like a great
player and get less action. Note that most players will ignore these names but
some of them wont and every bit of extra edge you can have is always good.
Also, choose your name carefully since you cant change it after. This is done so
the players can remember their opponents and their trades of they choose to.

Before submitting your information, you will have to accept the terms and
conditions of use. Please take the time to read them carefully. Most players dont.
But make sure you agree with the rules so you dont end up playing where you
dont want.

Once you submit your information, some cardrooms will send you an email
confirming your inscription. At PartyPoker, you can start playing right away.

The email will contain a welcome message as well as your personal
validation/activation code. This is just to make sure you gave a valid email
address. If you open an account at one of these sites, then in the lobby under My
Account, go to Change/Validate E-mail. Enter the validation code in the
appropriate box and hit the Validate button. You should then be all set to play.

But at PartyPoker, there is no need to do that.











C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 2 2 T TH HE E L LO OB BB BY Y


W WO OR RK KI IN NG G T TH HE E L LO OB BB BY Y

When you open an account at a new cardroom, the first thing you should do is to
familiarize yourself with the lobby. The lobby is the central nervous system of the
cardroom. This is where you can view news, change game settings, view your
personal info, view your real money account and more importantly view the list of
tables and check the tournament schedules.

Depending on the online cardroom you will find a variety of tabs, usually
Holdem, Stud, Omaha, Omaha High/Low and Tournaments. For example, under
the Holdem tab you will find Limit games, Pot-limit games and No-limit games.
Some cardrooms offer other games such as Pineapple, Draw Poker and Chinese
Poker. Here is a quick guide to the Party Poker lobby:



Most Cardroom will also let you set a variety of video and audio options such as
selecting the color of the deck, animations, sound, show bet amounts, have
characters or not and many others.

Menu
Game
Tabs
Game
Info
Cashier
Seated
Players
News &
Messages
Waiting
List
One great option to select in my opinion is the four color deck. I still do not
understand why we are not seeing this great idea in live casinos. In a four color
deck, Diamonds are blue and Clubs are green. Spades and Hearts stay the
same (black and red). This makes it a lot easier to spot possible flushes on the
board. I always use the four color deck. All of these options can usually be set
from the lobby under the Options menu.

You will also find an Account/Banking menu. This is where, should you choose to
play for real money, youll be able to view your account and update your personal
info.

Finally, you should see a help menu. Should you have any inquiries, this is where
you should go. Some cardrooms provide a 24h live help and others you will have
to email them. But be sure to check out their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
first, as the answer to your question is probably there.


T TA AB BL LE E I IN NF FO O

Most cardrooms will provide you with useful information on each available table.
You will find the stakes, the number of players seated, the number of players
waiting for that table and the average pot. Some cardrooms also provide the
average number of players on the flop and the number of hands dealt per hour.
This is gold. You should always check these statistics to see how loose the table
is playing and how aggressive the players are; how big the pots are. And you can
choose to display the tables according to the info provided. For example, if you
click on Stakes, the tables will appear from the biggest limits to the smallest or
vice-versa. If you click on Avg Pot you will see which tables have the biggest
pots.















C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 3 3 P PL LA AY YI IN NG G


P PL LA AY Y M MO ON NE EY Y G GA AM ME ES S

A great thing about online poker is the Play Money games. Depending on the
cardroom, the games will either be under the Games tab (Holdem, Stud, Omaha,
etc.) or under a separate Play Money tab. Play money games are a great way to
start out and familiarize yourself with the software. You will be provided with a
starting amount of play money chips, usually $1000. These can not be traded for
real cash.

Usually, play money tables start with Play or Fun.

PartyPoker has their play money games under a separate tab under
tournaments. When you select PlayMoney, you will have to choose which game
you wish to play. Select a game and then a table. You will see that even play
money has a choice of limits and games. To sit at a table, simply double-click on
the table name and another window should appear.


P PL LA AY Y M MO ON NE EY Y T TO OU UR RN NA AM ME EN NT TS S

If you wish to play a tournament, you can select between 2 types of tournaments:
a Single-table tournament (Sit & Go) or a Multi-table tournament.

Single-table tournaments have 9 or 10 players, and pay the top 3. These one
table tournaments run all day. As soon as the table is full, it starts. Depending on
the cardroom, you can get a tournament running in only a couple of minutes.

Multi-table tournaments have an unlimited number of players and will pay
according to the number of entrants. Each cardroom has its own payout
structure. You should consult the tournament tab to see the schedule. Usually,
you will find several tournaments during the day with different buy-ins. And make
sure you note the time the registration ends so you are not shut out of the
tournament.

You can enter freerolls if you have not deposited any funds in your account.


L LO OO OS SI IN NG G Y YO OU UR R P PL LA AY Y M MO ON NE EY Y

If you lose your entire play money, you can request a rebuy immediately. Usually,
you can get the same number of chips you originally got. Play money is for fun,
and you are never shut out of a game.
C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 4 4 T TH HE E T TA AB BL LE E W WI IN ND DO OW W

Once the table window is opened, you will see at the top of the window the table
name, the game and the stakes. In the center of the table, there is a chip rack. If
you click on it, you will be able to select table settings and rebuy if you need to.

You will also find a dealer and chat window. Depending on how you set the
dealer, you will get detailed information on the hand such as the action, the
cards, the winner of the hand, the winning hand and the pot size. Also, if you
wish to chat you can simply type in your comment and press enter on your
keyboard. Your comment will then appear in the window for everyone to see. If a
player annoys you when he chats, either double-click or right-click on his name
and you will be able to disable his chat and play in peace.

To sit down at the table, select an empty seat by clicking on it. You will then be
prompted and asked how much money you wish to sit with. Enter the amount
and click ok. There you are, ready to play!


R RE EA AL LT TI IM ME E S ST TA AT TS S

Some cardrooms offer statistics on your play while you are playing. You will find
the total number of hands played, the pots won, the percentage of hands won,
the percentage of hands played and more. Most sites offer these. They are very
helpful.


P PL LA AY YE ER R N NO OT TE ES S

Most cardroom will also give you the opportunity to take notes on your opponents
while you play. Unlike the realtime stats, these notes are stored on your
computer and are available the next time you log on and play against that
opponent. Usually, some kind of image will appear once you have a note on a
player, such as a small yellow post-it or a small n.

Simply said, this is a must for any serious player. Wouldnt it be nice to know that
player X always makes big bluffs on the river? Well, maybe youll play against
him in a year and would never remember this. But wait! You made a note of it!

Later, I will tell you how I use this feature.




C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 5 5 R RE EA AL L M MO ON NE EY Y G GA AM ME ES S


Once you are accustomed with the interface, maybe youd like to get started and
make some real cash. Most of your set up is already made, your account, email
etc. All you need is to transfer real money to your player account.

T TR RA AN NS SF FE ER RI IN NG G F FU UN ND DS S

You can transfer funds in many ways but some take more time than others. The
quickest way is to use your credit card. However, many credit card companies
have blocked transactions to gambling sites and you wont be able to process a
payment. There are many other ways like sending a check or money order or
using a third party. The most used third party is Neteller. When you open an
account with them, they basically act as a bank. You can transfer funds from your
credit card or personal bank account to your Neteller account and then to the
gambling site.

Once you have transferred funds to an online cardroom, they remain under the
custody of the cardroom until you decide you wish to get paid. They hold your
money until you want it. If you stop playing today and come back tomorrow, the
money will be there for you. And if you win some money in your poker session,
the money will be left in your players account.

When you request a cash-out, the cardroom will usually first reimburse you the
amount you originally transferred. For example, if you bought in for $200 on your
credit card, your first $200 will be credited back to your credit card. Any extra
winnings can be cashed out in many ways like a check, a wire transfer or a
transfer to a third party (like Neteller). If you cash out via Neteller, you can then
have them leave the cash in your account, have them send a check or deposit
the funds directly in your bank account. Having a Neteller account is a great way
to transfer funds from a cardroom to the next, if you decide to play at multiple
sites.


P PL LA AY YI IN NG G

Sitting down in real money game or a tournament is done the exact same way
you would in a play money game. However, if you lose all the money in your
account, you will have to rebuy using any of the above methods.






C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 6 6 O ON NL LI IN NE E P PO OK KE ER R V VS S B B& &M M P PO OK KE ER R


G GA AM ME E S SP PE EE ED D

Online poker being run by fast servers and programs is probably the biggest
difference with brick & mortar poker. In a live game, you probably can expect to
receive 30-35 hands per hour. Online, youll get dealt twice the hands. Thats a
big difference! Theres no shuffling and gathering the cards. Theres no lengthy
split of the pot and no changing of dealers.

It also means that a winning player can make a lot more money per hour than in
a live game. It also means that a loosing player will lose faster. But its also more
fun! Ever had those long nights where you cant seem to catch a hand? Well,
online, these nights go by quicker, since you get dealt more hands in the same
amount of time.

Swings are a part of the game, some nights you win, some you lose. If you are
mathematically inclined, maybe you calculated your Standard Deviation for live
play. Well, fasten your seat belt because swings from online play are incredibly
bigger. Its quite normal, since you are playing more hands. It also means that
your needed bankroll should be a lot bigger and that you can expect to lose a lot
more in a single session in an online game than in a live one.


L LO OW W R RA AK KE E N NO O T TO OK KE ES S

Online cardroom usually will have lower rakes than your live cardroom. Also,
theres no dealer to tip which means also that your hourly wage should go up.


P PL LA AY YI IN NG G 2 2 T TA AB BL LE ES S

A great advantage to online poker is you can play more than one table at once.
This is simply great. Before you start playing 2 tables, you need to consider the
pros and cons.

On the good side, you will be getting twice the hands. This means that if you are
a winning player, you will earn more. You can almost double your profits. Say
you make $20/hour playing one table. Playing a second table will probably make
you win more. You likely will not be making twice the hourly wage since you cant
be as efficient as when you are sitting at only one table. But you can probably
make more. What you probably need to do is to play more straightforward and
not vary too much your game plan. Youre going to be paying less attention to
your opponents so simply play solid poker. Some players are making over 4 big
bets per hour playing 2 tables. It can be done.

If you plan on playing 2 tables there a couple of tips you should know. The first
and more important is to split your tables on your monitor. This will avoid you
hitting raise on a table and having the second table popping up and raising with
72o. Heres how you do it:

1. On your desktop, right-click and go to Properties.
2. Hit the Settings tab.
3. Move your Screen Resolution to more than 800x600 pixels. 1024x768
pixels works great. If you cant get more than 800x600, its because your
video card cant support it. Buy a new video card if you wish, just make
sure your computer will support it.
4. When you run the client software of your cardroom, open 2 tables.
5. Drag one table to one corner and the second table to the opposite corner.
Like this:



This way, the action buttons will not overlap and you wont end up folding
aces on your second table.

However, realize that this is not for everyone. Some players have a hard time
handling the speed of the games and having to deal with quick decisions. It can
be pretty hard to decide in a second what actions to take when your have a great
hand on both tables. But for many players it is worth it. And youll get better at it
the more you play.


H HU UM MA AN N M ME EM MO OR RY Y A AN ND D S SH HU UF FF FL LI IN NG G

There has been A LOT of discussions on possible rigged poker sites. Many
players believe that some online cardroom manipulate the cards to ensure more
action, thus maximizing their rake. I will tell you this: I think its all crap.
Now I dont know for sure, Im not associated with any online pokerroom. But
when you think about it, even if the dealing was rigged, then it would also be
rigged for everyone, and it would all even out for us in the long run.

Humans are easily biased. Its far easier to remember when so and so hit his 2
outer to beat you than when you did it yourself. Incredible beats happen every
day in brick and mortar games, but you dont hear about them because many live
players dont play online and arent as familiar with the Internet. And its a lot
easier to go rant on a discussion forum seconds after you took the beat, than
when you come home from the casino and have to power up your computer. Ive
seen top set get beaten by an underpair hitting perfect perfect to make quads in
a big live tournament yet you probably didnt hear about it. It happens all the
time. But its normal that it happens more often in online games; they are dealing
twice the hands!

And, if you play 2 tables at once, you can lose pretty fast. The majority of poker
players do not note their results. Its quite possible that a player has been loosing
for 20 years in live games yet he thinks hes a winning poker player. In fact, this
is probably true of a good portion of poker players. Then, he plays online, where
the swings are huge since you are playing 4 times faster than in a live game
(playing 2 tables), and he loses his shirt in a week. Let me tell you, its probably
not the site, its probably the player.

And from a business point, rigging the shuffling would be suicidal. I mean, they
make a lot of money simply taking their rake as is; I cant see why they would risk
being discovered for the a little more profit. Employees change jobs and sooner
of later, this kind of stuff usually comes out. Some sites were dishonest in the
past and they are no longer with us.

Players who whine on the discussion forums are probably inexperienced and not
as knowledgeable as they should. Its easy to get side tracked and think you got
screwed when you probably should take a closer look at yourself.







C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 7 7 O ON NL LI IN NE E P PO OK KE ER R T TI IP PS S


P PL LA AY YI IN NG G M MU UL LT TI IP PL LE E S SI IT TE ES S

One of the really cool things that you can do as an internet poker player is to play
multiple sites. Its like living in Las Vegas and getting to choose your casino every
day. Whether you play two tables or more or just one, every site has its pros and
cons and you should tend to play in sites that offer the best games in your field of
expertise.


T TA AK KI IN NG G Q QU UA AL LI IT TY Y N NO OT TE ES S

One of the great improvements over the past years has certainly been the ability
to take notes on your opponents. Almost every cardroom has added that feature
since PokerStars introduced it when they launched. Its an awesome tool and you
should use it; your opponents are using it. When you play against an opponent,
your notes are stored on your computer. No one except you can see them.

Having good quality notes on your opponent can make a big difference in your
hourly wage. Say you sit down, get dealt AQ and a player open-raise. Wouldnt it
be nice to know how he plays? Is he tight or loose? Is he aggressive or passive?
Well, maybe you played against him 3 months ago and had you noted his game
style you would have known that this player is a solid rock. Suddenly, your AQ
doesnt look so good. Or maybe you would have noted that he often raises with
crap and therefore you should probably three-bet him with your AQ. What a
difference a simple note can make!

Plus, taking notes will make you pay more attention which can never hurt.

Heres a quick tip. When you spot something out of the ordinary, make a note of
it. Note the game (Holdem 10-20), and your overall impressions (tight-passive).
Then, you can note some precise things like: he open-raised with K9o when
UTG. Dont note that he raised from middle position with aces, everyone does
that.

H HA AN ND D H HI IS ST TO OR RI IE ES S

One of the major differences between Brick & Mortar and Online poker is the
ability to request hand histories. Every 100 hands you play, simply request them
and they will be sent to your email address. Some pokerrooms also let you
request them per time played (ex: for the last 3 hours). But double-check with
them what is the maximum amount of hands they will send. Some sites have a
maximum of hand histories they will send even if you have been playing for 4
hours and request your hand histories for the last day. In any case, most sites
will send you your complete hand histories if you make a request to their support.

Your hand histories in hand, you can analyze them to find if you made a mistake
in a hand. And it makes it easier to ask for a comment if you decide to post your
hand on one of the discussion forums. If you are going to post your hand history
on a forum, however, it is better etiquette to remove the names of the players
and replace them by player 1-10.

In the software section, there will be a discussion of two softwares that use hand
histories to help you improve your poker.


T TA AK KI IN NG G A AD DV VA AN NT TA AG GE E O OF F P PR RO OM MO OT TI IO ON NS S

Most online cardrooms have multiple promotions you should take advantage of.
Some offer first time players a bonus of $25 when you sign-up. Others will offer a
percentage (usually 20%) of your first buy-in. Why not make some quick cash
simply by depositing? You can make some easy money this way. Usually, there
are some restrictions, such as playing a minimum number of hands before you
get your bonus. But its certainly worth the time and effort.

Some of the online cardrooms offer daily bonuses to their players. For example,
at Ultimate Bet, the highest hand of the hour receives a cash prize. And at Party
Poker, they have a high hand jackpot that could make you thousands simply by
playing at their sites.

Available to you here in the Online Poker Starting Guide are the following
promotions:

Party Poker (Largest Online Poker Room)

Get a 20% bonus (max $100) using code Guide.
Get a $25 bonus using code PY25Free.
Get a free entry into a Party Poker Million (World Poker Tour event)
Qualifier using code Free2004.

Empire Poker (More than 50,000 players)

Get a 20% bonus (max $100) using code CHIPS531.

Ultimate Bet (Endorsed by Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth)

Get a 20% bonus (max $100) using code UB20Free.

PokerStars (Where Greg Raymer and Chris Moneymaker won entries to the
WSOP)

Get a 20% bonus (max $100) using this Unique PokerStars link.

ParadisePoker (Play against Caprice)

Get a 25% bonus (max $50) using this Unique ParadisePoker link.


PokerRoom (Play Poker no download)

Get a 20% bonus (max $100) using this Unique PokerRoom link.


Gaming Club Poker (Part of Prima Network)

Get a 20% bonus (max $200) using this Unique Gaming Club link.


Pacific Poker (Runned by Casino-On-Net)

Get a 25% bonus (max $100) using this Unique Pacific Poker link.


Finally, when a key milestone hand, like the 100 millionth hand is due to be dealt,
there will usually be a huge prize for the winner and the players dealt in the hand.
Make sure you are playing at that site when it happens. Luck could strike.


B BA AN NK KR RO OL LL L C CO ON NS SI ID DE ER RA AT TI IO ON NS S

When you are playing in a live game, you can always go back to the ATM should
you lose the money you are carrying. Online, its a bit more complicated as you
have to process a new transaction in order to get funds in your players account.
When you get used to it, its really no big deal and it just takes seconds.

But its something you might want to consider if youd prefer not rebuying. For
example, for a 5-10 game, you usually sit down with $200. If youd like to be sure
you wont need to rebuy then you should calculate your standard deviation to
figure out how much you should have. However, a safe number would probably
be around $4000. Its more than in live games since you are getting dealt more
hands and so the swings are bigger. And this is for one table. Of course, if you
dont mind rebuying, then you really dont need as much.


O ON NL LI IN NE E T TE EL LL LS S

Online tells do exist but they are not as obvious as some of the live play tells.
Sometimes, its the time spent to act thats a giveaway. Some players will press
the raise-any button to appear to be strong when they are actually weak. Others
will sometimes wait a good 20 seconds before raising, usually a sign of a strong
hand. However, you must be cautious. Due to internet connections, it is very
possible these delays happen simply because sometimes our connections are
low. But against some players they are reliable, just make sure you notice them a
couple of times (and make a note of it) before you act on them.



C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 8 8 O ON NL LI IN NE E E ET TI IQ QU UE ET TT TE E


A AC CT TI IN NG G Q QU UI IC CK KL LY Y

Online poker can let you choose your action in advance by selecting one of the
in-turn buttons. Whenever, you can, you should use them. If you know you are
going to fold no matter what, then select fold. There is no reason why you
shouldnt do this. It speeds up the game and so it makes you more money.

If you have to think, then do it. Its part of poker to have to think before acting.
You are usually allowed 15 seconds if you need them, then use them. But try as
often as possible to act fast. One of the draw backs of playing more than one
table is exactly this. If you cant handle the pace of 2 tables, then only play one.


T TH HE E C CH HA AT T B BO OX X

Since online poker is played in front of a computer screen instead of eye to eye,
some players feel the urge to badger their opponents when they are angry. A
good winning player knows better. Try not to lose your calm and start cursing
your opponents. We all take beats and we all give them. Its a lots easier to type
you moron in a small box than to say it in person. It certainly doesnt mean its
nicer. And if a bad player gives you a beat, try not to curse at him, you will only
make him leave. Chances are hell be replaced by a better player.

Theres also a new kind of badgering thats very annoying: pan-handling. Every
day at the upper limits some one comes and begs for a buck. I just took a beat
and I need a buck for a tourney, will pay next week. These are simply annoying
and when you play the higher limits, you are hit with them every single day. I
think online sites should discourage this.

Finally, heres a quick guide to chat words:

nh = nice hand
gh = good hand
vnh = very nice hand
lol = laughing out loud
lmao = laughing my a** off
rotfl = rolling on the floor laughing
wtf? = what the f**k?


C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 9 9 S SE EC CU UR RI IT TY Y


This could very well apply to your whole internet settings, and not just when you
decide to play poker. Certainly not everyone out there is trying to hack your
computer but my motto is its usually better be safe than sorry. And so you
should try to understand that a little basic understanding of online security can go
a long way.

The first thing you should do is set up a firewall. A firewall is a software that acts
as a shield and blocks intruders from your computer. As far as I know, the best
firewall out there is Zone Alarm. The great thing about their firewall is that their
free version, available here, is better than many of the professional versions! So
you dont even have to pay to get a good, reliable firewall. Download their
software, follow the instructions and your firewall will be setup in a matter of
minutes.


C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 1 10 0 C CH HE EA AT TI IN NG G

Unfortunately, when money is involved, someone always finds a way to
wrongfully make some. This also happens in poker, both in online and in live
play. But the good news is that the games are very beatable, cheating or not,
even at the highest limits. Cheaters are usually not smart enough to beat the
game on their own and so the single fact that you are sitting at the same table
with them should make you some money if you are good.

Sure, two (2) players could talk on the phone and share hole cards. So what?
Maybe, they can win an extra buck or two here and there. Many online poker
players make more than $100 000 a year playing at the highest levels of online
poker. If the games werent beatable because of cheaters, no one would play. Im
not saying its not a serious offence, it is. But rather that it shouldnt prevent you
from playing if you want to. And if you are a low-limit player, chances are you
wont be facing cheaters very often.

If you suspect something is funny, simply report it to the support staff of the
cardroom you are playing at. They have all the logs, and can look into the players
very accurately. They can see their IP addresses, their home towns and if they
play together more than average. Now dont report every one you play against if
you are taking beats, be smart, its probably just a bad luck streak.


C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 1 11 1 A AV VA AI IL LA AB BL LE E T TO OO OL LS S

One of the big benefits of playing poker online is that you can use some very cool
tools that are not available to the live game player.

T TR RA AC CK KE ER R S SO OF FT TW WA AR RE E

At this time, there are two great softwares you can try out that will really help you
improve your skills: PokerTracker and PokerStat. You can use these softwares to
analyze your hand histories and really make some adjustments to your strategy.
For example, you might find out that playing KTs in early position is a losing
proposition in your game, or for example that you are defending your blinds too
much. These are great tools to have in your arsenal.

S ST TI IM MU UL LA AT TI IO ON N S SO OF FT TW WA AR RE E

One of the best ways to improve your game is to do some simulations. Wouldnt
you like to know how often a hand wins over another?

I highly recommend PokerStove. Its easy to use, and you can simulate not only
one hand versus another hand, but also against a range of hands. Lets say you
have 77, and you think your opponent might have AK, AQ, AA, KK or QQ.
PokerStove will tell you who the favorite is.

D DI IS SC CU US SS SI IO ON N F FO OR RU UM MS S

Discussing poker strategy on the Internet is a wonderful way to improve your
game. There are forums in which professional players will contribute and actually
give you advice.

The more popular forums are Rec.Gambling.Poker, which can be viewed at
RGP. Rec.Gambling.Poker is a usenet newsgroup, which means its not
censored. This means unfortunately that you will find offensive posts here and
there, but youll also find great discussions on how to improve your skills and hos
to beat your opponents.

There are also moderated forums, like Two Plus Two Forums and The United
Poker Forum. These are great to discuss strategy with other players just like you.
Frankly, I dont believe you can develop yourself as quickly and as solidly if you
do not visit these forums. If you want to become a great poker player, you have
to go through these.

C CH HA AP PT TE ER R 1 12 2 S SO OM ME E F FI IN NA AL L T TH HO OU UG GH HT TS S

Whether you are a kitchen amateur or a pro, playing online poker can be really
fun. Its easy, fast and can be profitable. Its really the best way to improve your
playing skills.

Back in the 70s, players had to play 40 hours a week during 2 months to play
10,000 hands. If you play more than one table, you can achieve this in 1-2
weeks. Think about how you can really become a better player faster simply
because you get to play more hands.

The recent 2004 and 2003 winners of the World Series of Poker, Greg Raymer
and Chris Moneymaker qualified online, for a small fraction of the buy-in amount.

If you do your homework, you too can become a world champion one day.

Good luck!


A AP PP PE EN ND DI IX X A A U US SE EF FU UL L L LI IN NK KS S

O ON NL LI IN NE E C CA AR RD DR RO OO OM MS S

Party Poker
Online Poker Games for Live Poker Players at Party Poker the Biggest Poker
Room on the Internet. They offer best Online Poker information for live poker
games like 7 Card Stud, Omaha, Texas Hold'em and much more.
PokerStars
PokerStars provides great poker action at your choice of buy-ins with opponents
from around the world. We offer user-friendly poker software, exceptional
service and unique features.
Paradise Poker
Poker against real people for money or for fun. Poker at the World's Premier
Online Poker Room. Free Download.
Empire Poker
Play online poker, with Texas Holdem tables and tournaments action. Over
200,000 prize pools. The only online poker room with a VIP program.
Ultimate Bet
Play Online poker at UltimateBet.com, the most authentic poker room online.
UltimateBet.com has the best poker tournaments with more frequent payouts than
any other online poker room.
Poker Room
Poker Room provides Online Poker, Texas Hold em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud tables
and tournaments, lots of players and no downloads!
Pacific Poker
Online Poker at Poker On Net. Specializing in Texas Holdem poker, free poker,
free Texas Holdem poker and free online poker
Gaming Club
The Gaming Club Poker Room offers you the challenge of proving that you are
able to beat the best with more tournaments online, more chances to win seats to
land-based tournaments and more opportunities to win big prize pools.

I IN NF FO O/ /S ST TR RA AT TE EG GY Y S SI IT TE ES S

PokerPages
The most comprehensive website devoted to poker, including an
international directory of poker rooms, wsop, wpt, tournament schedules,
tips and strategies for beginners or professional players, poker articles.
CardPlayer
Your #1 Poker Source for the latest news, tournament results, pro tips, in
depth articles, Texas Holdem odds, free online poker, and poker chips and
other merchandise. CardPlayer.com - The Poker Authority.
The Poker Forum
The Poker Forum is a poker information source for poker players.
Information on Texas Hold'em, Tournaments , Online Poker, Poker
Theory, Poker Strategy, WSOP, Poker rooms







P PO OK KE ER R T TO OU UR RS S / / S SE ER RI IE ES S

World Poker Tour The official website of the World Poker Tour.
WPT Insider
Your unofficial guide to the world poker tour, event schedule, results,
season leaderboards, poker strategy, player stats, bios and much more.
WPT Fan
The (unofficial) World Poker Tour fan site. Andy Bloch's fan site, filled
with great poker discussions.
European Poker Tour
PokerStars.tv-European Poker Tour is a new series of major poker
tournaments being conducted and televised throughout Europe.
Travel Channel WPT The Travel Channel World Poker Tour fan site.
Harrahs WSOP The official website of the World Series of Poker.

M MI IS SC CA AL LL LE EN NE EO OU US S

Links2Poker
Links 2 Poker is a complete directory to all the poker sites out there.
Youll find hundreds of links to poker portals and more.
Poker Pulse
Get accurate reports on how many players are playing on several
internet sites.

A AP PP PE EN ND DI IX X B B P PO OK KE ER R B BO OO OK KS S


Poker for Dummies - Lou Krieger & Richard D. Harroch
Poker is America's national card game, and its popularity continues to grow. Nationwide,
you can find a game in progress everywhere. If you want to play, you can find poker
games on replicas of 19th century riverboats or on Native American tribal lands. You can
play poker at home with the family or... Read more

The Fundamentals of poker - Mason Malmuth, Lynne Loomis &
Clare Tattersall

Discusses seven card stud, Texas holdem, Omaha, razz, and lowball. Covers strategy
considerations necessary for basic survival. An excellent guide for beginners. Read
more

The Theory of poker - David Sklansky
David Sklansky is generally considered the number one authority on gambling in the
world today. Besides his ten books on the subject, David also has produced two videos
and numerous writings for various gaming publications. His occasional poker seminars
always receive an enthusiastic reception,...Read more

Super System - Doyle Brunson
The classic on every major no-limit game played today. Chapters written by experts such
as Sklansky, Caro, Reese, Baldwin, and Brunson himself. Considered to be one of the
best books on poker ever. Read more

Hold'em Poker - David Sklansky
Must reading for anyone planning to play in Nevada, California or a home game. The
text is designed for someone relatively new to the game, but it still contains much
sophisticated material. Recently updated to todays double blind structure. Contains the
most up-to-date Sklansky hand rankings. Read more

Winning low-limit Hold'em - Lee jones
This is the acclaimed, bestselling book for holdem novices and low-limit veterans alike.
It doesnt overwhelm you with tables or statistics, and doesnt spend a lot of time on
sophisticated plays. It simply gives you good solid strategies and tactics that will
consistently beat low-limit games anywhere. Read more

Pot-limit & No-limit Poker - Bob Ciaffone & Stewart Reuben
Geared to experienced players this book is devoted to pot-limit and no-limit betting. It
starts with a discussion of general theory, and how to apply the theory to the main forms
of poker. Read more

Middle limit Holdem Poker - Bob Ciaffone & Jim Brier
Primarily aimed at the $10-$20 to $40-$80 player, many of the ideas can be applied to
lower and higher stakes games as well. Ciaffone and Brier are both well-known pros, and
their book stresses the practical application of holdem ideas. Read more

Omaha Hold'em Poker - Bob Ciaffone
Considered by many to b the best book on Omaha available. Read more

Improve your Poker - Bob Ciaffone
This is a general work on poker aimed at the player who already knows the game and is
looking to improve. Loaded with information about how the top players think when they
are playing, and the techniques they use. Read more

Play poker like the Pros - Phil Hellmuth Jr.
The perfect introduction to the world of Texas Holdem, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and
Razz no matter what level of player you are. Includes basic and advanced strategies,
when to play, when to bluff, when to raise, and when to fold. Read more

Inside the Poker Mind - John Feeney
To become an expert poker player you have to master skills such as hand selection,
position, proper image projection, and reading hands. Yet many players know the
concepts, but do poorly anyway. Knowing the concepts is one thing, putting it all
together is another. Read more

The psychology of poker - Alan N. Schoonmaker
Have you ever wondered why some players seem extremely aggressive while others are
passive? Why some are tight and others loose? Why some tactics seem to come naturally
to you while others dont? This book is concerned with the way that psychological
factors affect your own and your opponents ability to play properly. This text will help
explain why you and your opponents play the way you do. Read more

Book of Tells - Mike Caro
Features photos of poker players in action and Caro's own accompanying explanations
about when players are bluffing, when they're not and why. Read more




Advanced Series Books:

Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players - David Sklansky & Mason
Malmuth
The definitive work on this very difficult game. This book corrects inaccuracies and
clarifies misconceptions about holdem. This new edition adds over 100 pages of new
material, including extensive sections on loose games, and shorthanded play. Read more

Seven Card Stud for Advanced Players - David Sklansky, Mason
Malmuth & Ray Zee
The definitive work on this extremely complex game. With the writing of this book, a
major gap in the poker literature has been closed. This new edition adds over 100 pages
of new material including an extensive section on loose games. Read more

Omaha Poker for Advanced Players - Ray Zee
The definitive work on the eight or better high-low split versions of omaha and seven
card stud. Read more

Tournament Poker for Advanced Players - David Sklansky
Some people excel at tournament poker. This is not luck. From a distance a poker
tournament may look like a typical poker game, but there are many factors that can lead
to proper strategy that is very different than what most players are familiar with. Read
more
Championship Series Books:

Championship No-limit & Pot-limit Hold'em - T.J. Cloutier &
Tom McEvoy
The definitive guide to winning at two of the most exciting poker games. It tells you how
to get inside your opponents heads and learn how to beat them at their own game, how
much to bet, raise, and reraise, when you can bluff, how to set up your opponents, and
the best strategies to use in tournament play. Read more

Championship Omaha - T.J. Cloutier
Covers Omaha high-low, pot-limit Omaha, and limit (high) Omaha. TJ is the only player
ever to win World Series bracelets in all 3 games, and McEvoy has a bracelet for Limit
Omaha. Read more
Other Poker related books:

Positively Fifth Street : Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's
World Series of Poker - James McManus
Jim McManus, a novelist reporting for Harpers went to Las Vegas to cover the Ted
Binion murder trial and to write a story about the WSOP. Read more

Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People : The Memoirs of
the Greatest Gambler Who Ever Lived - Amarillo Slim Preston &
Greg Dinkin
Amarillo Slim Preston with Greg Dinkin. In this book Slim describes some of his
greatest gambling exploits. Read more

The Biggest game in town - A. Alvarez
A sought after classic that is finally back in print. Delves into the world of high-stakes
poker in Las Vegas and in particular the World Series of Poker, where the next best
thing to playing and winning is playing and losing. Read more

Poker Nation : a High Stakes, Low-Life Adventure in the
Heart of a Gambling Country - Andy Bellin
On any given Friday night, hundreds of thousands of Americansmen and women alike
pile into kitchens, garages, and backrooms to play their weekly poker game. Read
more

Big Deal : One Year as a Professional Poker Player - Anthony
Holden
The best-selling account of a year spent in the tough world of the professional poker
player. Read more

A AP PP PE EN ND DI IX X C C G GL LO OS SS SA AR RY Y

ACTION
A fold, check, call, bet, or raise. For certain situations, doing
something formally connected with the game that conveys
information about your hand may also be considered as having
taken action. Examples would be showing your cards at the end
of the hand, or indicating the number of cards you are taking at
draw.
AGGRESSIVE
ACTION
A wager that could enable a player to win a pot without a
showdown; a bet or raise.
ALL-IN
When you have put all of your playable money and chips into the
pot during the course of a hand, you are said to be all-in.
ANTE
A prescribed amount posted before the start of a hand by all
players.
BET
The act of placing a wager in turn into the pot on any betting
round, or the chips put into the pot.
BIG BLIND The largest regular blind in a game.
BLIND A required bet made before any cards are dealt.
BLIND GAME A game which utilizes a blind.
BOARD
(1) The board on which a waiting list is kept for players wanting
seats in specific games. (2) Cards face-up on the table common to
each of the hands.
BOARDCARD
A community card in the center of the table, as in holdem or
Omaha.
BOXED CARD
A card that appears face-up in the deck where all other cards are
facedown.
BROKEN GAME A game no longer in action.
BURNCARD
After the initial round of cards is dealt, the first card off the deck
in each round that is placed under a chip in the pot, for security
purposes. To do so is to burn the card; the card itself is called the
burncard.
BUTTON
A player who is in the designated dealer position. See dealer
button.
BUTTON
GAMES
Games in which a dealer button is used.
BUY-IN The minimum amount of money required to enter any game.
CALIFORNIA
LOWBALL
Ace-to-five lowball with a joker.
CAPPED
Describes the situation in limit poker in which the maximum
number of raises on the betting round have been reached.
CARDS SPEAK
The face value of a hand in a showdown is the true value of the
hand, regardless of a verbal announcement.
CHECK
To waive the right to initiate the betting in a round, but to retain
the right to act if another player initiates the betting.
CHECK-RAISE
To waive the right to bet until a bet has been made by an
opponent, and then to increase the bet by at least an equal amount
when it is your turn to act.
COLLECTION
The fee charged in a game (taken either out of the pot or from
each player).
COLLECTION
DROP
A fee charged for each hand dealt.
COLOR
CHANGE
A request to change the chips from one denomination to another.
COMMON CARD
A card dealt faceup to be used by all players at the showdown in
the games of stud poker whenever there are insufficient cards left
in the deck to deal each player a card individually.
COMMUNITY
CARDS
The cards dealt faceup in the center of the table that can be used
by all players to form their best hand in the games of holdem
and Omaha.
COMPLETE THE
BET
To increase an all-in bet or forced bet to a full bet in limit poker.
CUT
To divide the deck into two sections in such a manner as to
change the order of the cards.
CUT-CARD Another term for the bottom card.
DEAD CARD A card that is not legally playable.
DEAD
COLLECTION
BLIND
A fee posted by the player having the dealer button, used in some
games as an alternative method of seat rental.
DEAD HAND A hand that is not legally playable.
DEAD MONEY
Chips that are taken into the center of the pot because they are not
considered part of a particular players bet.
DEAL
To give each player cards, or put cards on the board. As used in
these rules, each deal refers to the entire process from the
shuffling and dealing of cards until the pot is awarded to the
winner.
DEAL OFF
To take all the blinds and the button before changing seats or
leaving the table. That is, participate through all the blind
positions and the dealer position.
DEAL TWICE
When there is no more betting, agreeing to have the rest of the
cards to come determine only half the pot, removing those cards,
and dealing again for the other half of the pot.
DEALER
BUTTON
A flat disk that indicates the player who would be in the dealing
position for that hand (if there were not a house dealer). Normally
just called the button.
DECK
A set of playing-cards. In these games, the deck consists of either
(1) 52 cards in seven-card stud, holdem, and Omaha. (2) 53
cards (including the joker), often used in ace-to-five lowball and
draw high.
DISCARD(S)
In a draw game, to throw cards out of your hand to make room
for replacements, or the card(s) thrown away; the muck.
DOWNCARDS Cards that are dealt facedown in a stud game.
DRAW
(1) The poker form where players are given the opportunity to
replace cards in the hand. In some places like California, the
word draw is used referring to draw high, and draw low is
called lowball. (2) The act of replacing cards in the hand. (3)
The point in the deal where replacing is done is called the
draw.
FACECARD A king, queen, or jack.
FIXED LIMIT
In limit poker, any betting structure in which the amount of the
bet on each particular round is pre-set.
FLASHED CARD A card that is partially exposed.
FLOORPERSON A casino employee who seats players and makes decisions.
FLOP
In holdem or Omaha, the three community cards that are turned
simultaneously after the first round of betting is complete.
FLUSH A poker hand consisting of five cards of the same suit.
FOLD To throw a hand away and relinquish all interest in a pot.
FORCED BET A required wager to start the action on the first betting round (the
normal way action begins in a stud game).
FOULED HAND A dead hand.
FOURTH
STREET
The second upcard in seven-card stud or the first boardcard after
the flop in holdem (also called the turn card).
FREEROLL A chance to win something at no risk or cost.
FULL BUY
A buy-in of at least the minimum requirement of chips needed for
a particular game.
FULL HOUSE A hand consisting of three of a kind and a pair.
HAND
(1) All a players personal cards. (2) The five cards determining
the poker ranking. (3) A single poker deal.
HEADS-UP
PLAY
Only two players involved in play.
HOLECARDS The cards dealt facedown to a player.
INSURANCE
A side agreement when someone is all-in for a player in a pot to
put up money that guarantees a payoff of a set amount in case the
opponent wins the pot.
JOKER
The joker is a partially wild card in high draw poker and ace-
to-five lowball. In high, it is used for aces, straights, and flushes.
In lowball, the joker is the lowest unmatched rank in a hand.
KANSAS CITY
LOWBALL
A form of draw poker low also known as deuce-to-seven, in
which the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 and straights and flushes count
against you.
KICKER
The highest unpaired card that helps determine the value of a
five-card poker hand.
KILL (OR KILL
BLIND)
An oversize blind, usually twice the size of the big blind and
doubling the limit. Sometimes a half-kill increasing the blind
and limits by fifty percent is used. A kill can be either voluntary
or mandatory. The most common requirements of a mandatory
kill are for winning two pots in a row at lowball and other games,
or for scooping a pot in high-low split.
KILL BUTTON
A button used in a lowball game to indicate a player who has
won two pots in a row and is required to kill the pot.
KILL POT
A pot with a forced kill by the winner of the two previous pots, or
the winner of an entire pot of sufficient size in a high-low split
game. (Some pots can be voluntarily killed.)
LEG UP
Being in a situation equivalent to having won the previous pot,
and thus liable to have to kill the following pot if you win the
current pot.
LIST The ordered roster of players waiting for a game.
LIVE BLIND
A blind bet giving a player the option of raising if no one else has
raised.
LOCK-UP A chip marker that holds a seat for a player.
LOWBALL A draw game where the lowest hand wins.
LOWCARD The lowest upcard at seven-card stud, which is required to bet.
MISCALL An incorrect verbal declaration of the ranking of a hand.
MISDEAL
A mistake on the dealing of a hand which causes the cards to be
reshuffled and a new hand to be dealt.
MISSED BLIND A required bet that is not posted when it is your turn to do so.
MUCK
(1) The pile of discards gathered facedown in the center of the
table by the dealer. (2) To discard a hand.
MUST-MOVE
In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of
a second game must move into the first game as openings occur.
NO-LIMIT
A betting structure where players are allowed to wager any or all
of their chips in one bet.
OPENER The player who made the first voluntary bet.
OPENER
BUTTON
A button used to indicate who opened a particular pot in a draw
game.
OPENERS
In jacks-or-better draw, the cards held by the player who opens
the pot that show the hand qualifies to be opened. Example
OPTION The choice to raise a bet given to a player with a blind.
OVERBLIND
Also called oversize blind. A blind used in some pots that is
bigger than the regular big blind, and usually increases the stakes
proportionally.
PASS
(1) Decline to bet. In a pass-and-out game, this differs from a
check, because a player who passes must fold. (2) Decline to call
a wager, at which point you must discard your hand and have no
further interest in the pot.
PAT Not drawing any cards in a draw game.
PLAY BEHIND
Have chips in play that are not in front of you (allowed only
when waiting for chips that are already purchased). This differs
from table stakes.
PLAY OVER To play in a seat when the occupant is absent.
PLAY THE
BOARD
Using all five community cards for your hand in holdem.
PLAYOVER
BOX
A clear plastic box used to cover and protect the chips of an
absent player when someone plays over that seat.
POSITION
(1) The relation of a players seat to the blinds or the button. (2)
The order of acting on a betting round or deal.
POT-LIMIT
The betting structure of a game in which you are allowed to bet
up to the amount of the pot.
POTTING OUT
Agreeing with another player to take money out of a pot, often to
buy food, cigarettes, or drinks, or to make side bets.
PROPOSITION
BETS
Side bets between players that are not related to the outcome of
the hand.
PROTECTED
HAND
A hand of cards that the player is physically holding, or has
topped with a chip or some other object to prevent a fouled hand.
PUSH
When a new dealer replaces an existing dealer at a particular
table.
PUSHING BETS
The situation in which two or more players make an agreement to
return bets to each other when one of them wins a pot in which
the other or others play. Also called saving bets.
RACK
(1) A container in which chips are stored while being transported.
(2) A tray in front of the dealer, used to hold chips and cards.
RAISE
To increase the amount of a previous wager. This increase must
meet certain specifications, depending on the game, to reopen the
betting and count toward a limit on the number of raises allowed.
RERAISE To raise someones raise.
SAVING BETS Same as pushing bets.
SCOOP
To win both the high and the low portions of a pot in a split-pot
game.
SCRAMBLE A facedown mixing of the cards.
SETUP
Two suited decks, each with different colored backs, to replace
the current decks in a game.
SHORT BUY A buy-in that is less than the required minimum buy-in.
SHOWDOWN
The final act of determining the winner of the pot after all betting
has been completed.
SHUFFLE The act of mixing the cards before a hand.
SIDE POT A separate pot formed when one or more players are all in.
SMALL BLIND In a game with multiple blind bets, the smallest blind.
SPLIT POT
A pot that is divided among players, either because of a tie for the
best hand or by agreement prior to the showdown.
SPLITTING
BLINDS
When no one else has entered the pot, an agreement between the
big blind and small blind to each take back their blind bets
instead of playing the deal (chopping).
SPLITTING
OPENERS
In high draw jacks-or-better poker, dividing openers in hopes of
making a different type of hand. Example
STACK Chips in front of a player.
STRADDLE
An additional blind bet placed after the forced blinds, usually
double the big blind in size or in lowball, a multiple blind game.
STRAIGHT Five cards in consecutive rank.
STRAIGHT
FLUSH
Five cards in consecutive rank of the same suit.
STREET
Cards dealt on a particular round in stud games. For instance, the
fourth card in a players hand is often known as fourth street, the
sixth card as sixth street, and so on.
STRING RAISE
A bet made in more than one motion, without the declaration of a
raise (not allowed).
STUB The portion of the deck which has not been dealt.
SUPERVISOR
A cardroom employee qualified to make rulings, such as a
floorperson, shift supervisor, or the cardroom manager.
TABLE STAKES
(1) The amount of money you have on the table. This is the
maximum amount that you can lose or that anyone can win from
you on any one hand. (2) The requirement that players can wager
only the money in front of them at the start of a hand, and can
only buy more chips between hands.
TIME
An expression used to stop the action on a hand. Equivalent to
Hold it.
TIME
COLLECTION
A fee for a seat rental, paid in advance.
TOURNAMENT A poker competition, normally with an entry fee and prizes.
TURNCARD The fourth street card in hold'em or Omaha.
UPCARDS Cards that are dealt faceup for opponents to see in stud games.
WAGER (1) To bet or raise. (2) The chips used for betting or raising.